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Benjamin Deist

My work involves modification of the Bt toxin Cry4Aa-S1 to increase toxicity against the soybean aphid for potential use in genetically modified soybean. I am working to increase the binding of Cry4Aa-S1 to the soybean aphid gut by incorporating soybean aphid gut binding peptides into Cry4Aa-S1. The rationale behind my project is that there is typically a correlation between toxin binding to the insect gut epithelium and toxicity, and that if binding of the toxin to the gut epithelium can be increased, a similar increase in toxicity should be observed.

Area of Expertise:

Microbiology

Major:

Microbiology

Education:

B.S. Biology with a minor in Chemistry, University of Wisconsin at Platteville